An earthquake reported to have been centered in North Saanich, B.C. could be felt throughout the Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and portions of Washington state at 11:39 p.m. on Tuesday.
Both Earthquake Track and the U.S. Geological Survey have reported the quake registered a magnitude of 4.8, while Natural Resources Canada was reporting 4.3.
The sources say the quake occurred about 19 km NNE of Victoria.
Social media was flooded with comments from people who felt the tremour, many saying they were awakened by a loud bang or by the shaking of their home or building.
“Total house shaker,” stated one Facebook post.
“That was stronger than previous ones,” stated another.
Another Facebook commenter said he heard “several bangs” in the McMillan and Old Yale Road area.
“It felt way bigger than the one we had last summer, and the shaking lasted much longer as well.”
In August of this year, two minor earthquakes took place in the Abbotsford-Mission area in less than 36 hours. The first one was a magnitude of 2.6, and the second was 2.4.
These followed a stronger 3.3 magnitude quake that had been been recorded July 5 in Abbotsford.